The Forrest City times., 1887-10-15
there should be no prosecution

was well known that the duke had not only offered to pardon her, but to take care of her for life if she would say anything that would lead to the dis covery of the gems.
 She persistenly refused, thereford she must be guilty. The magistrate who committed her, the solicitor who de- tended her, counciled her strongly to tell-to break her silence. The magistrate who was so impressed by the pale, sweet beauty of her sorrowful | lace that he went out Of his way to nave a long conversation with her. He pointed out to her the difference there would be in her lot, if she would give the clew to the discovery of the dia- monds. She would save herself long years of Imprisonment, and undo s most grevieus wrong.
 Sbe looked at him with eyes full O, steadfast light.
 ''I can not speak" she said. and although on the most reliable eyiden ce he hae just committed her to prison. ne vowed to himself that she had no more stolen the diamonds than he l mad.
 It was the same with her solicitor. MT. Branscombe. At first she refused to employ any solicitor. What could it profit her, she said, when she was l guilty? But the chaplain who visited her advised her, and Mir. Branscombe a solicitor, who had been much inter ested in the case, offered her his ser vices.
 "l will ask no fec," he said, "unless l clear you -
 "N ou can not do that" she replied: ''for I am guilty"
 He looked at her with shrewd, keen eyes.
 You may be guilty of something D ne said, but you are not guilty of this charge ," and he saw that her pale lace flushed crimson. He could do nothing with her; in vain he talked. persuaded, scolded.
 "Other people may think what they l Will he said to her. 'sI know that you had nothing 10 to with the robbery Of the dlamonds; but that in some strange, mysterious, foolish way you are screening some one else, or you are sacrificing yourself after the foolish manner offoolish woman. Is it not sop,
 She had the same answer for him as i for every one else
 ''l am guilty .'
 | "Tell me something that can urge In your favor" he pleaded-"some- thlng that can make the most of 20
 She looked up at him with grave 1 gentle smile.
 "fou are very good and kind to me, '' she said, "and 1 am most grateful to you. Do you know the greatest ser vice, the greatest favor and kindness you can do for me Yn
 "No; but 1 will do 1t, if you will tell me ," he said. Il would do anything | to help you !"
 Do this" she said, gently; make no l effort to save me !'
 That is the only thing I can not ! consent to do," he answered. "Oh | If could persuade you-if you would ] pause and think what you are doing l, 1ou are ruthlessly ninging away your whole life."
 And he wondered why she laughed a soft, low little laugh, as If in his words there was something even of amusement, He could do no more.
 "I can not see ,'' he said to her one day, 'in what way your offence ben efits you?"
 "The best and wisest actions of our i lives" she replied, "are not always che actions that benefit ourselves" The autumn assiZes came on, and l Clayering was full Of excitement. | The theft of the famous Meath dia- monds had been canvased everywhere. 1 Over the guilt of the unhappy woman there did not seem to be any donbt; but why she made no confession, when so great all inducemeut was offered to tempt her to make one, no one could guess.
 The trial attracted great attention, although there was nothing said of t h 6 prisoner, except that she was woman Of great beauty, and maker of point lace. It did not say whether she had always been an inhab!tant of Clavering or not.
 The only remark was that her an teeedents were not known. Reporte rs from many ofth leading papers were present, and many ofth general pub lie. The duke himself had to go into the wtness-box. From the first the re was no chance for the prisoner.
 The judge, impressed as every one else, by the beauty ofthe sweet, sad face, thought and said to himself that the woman was innocent; yet, how could he maintain that? The jury, one and all, believed her innocent; but what could be done against such an over wheiming mass of evidence. It was SO clear First of all Mrs. Grey, of un- known ansecedeRts. comes to live at Clayering without the least ostensible reason, when the duke and duchess return; then she gets intimate with the household, then goes to the Castle un- der the plea of repairing tapestry and lace, and all this time she is living in disguise. Then it was proved, for the duchess had unfortunately repeated the conversation to her husband, that, on the very evening of the robbery, she had talked to the duchess about the diamonds, and the duchess had told her where they were kept.
 That was the most fatal link in the whole chain; there was such strange coincidence in it: that, on the very evening she was told where the safe and jewels were, the safe should be rified and the diamonds stolen.
 Then she was aone in that part of the house. She professed to hear some strange sound; she professed even to have gone to the dressing room to see what ft was, but heard and saw nothing. The worst part of the evidence was sLlll lO COiue
 Then the search was made; she was at first quiet and calm-indifferent- until the detectives attempted to open 6 trunk which stood ih the room. Then she was reused to desperation; she showed every sign of intense fear, she went down on her knees and pray ed them, for Heavens sake, not to touch her box.
 Here came the crucial point; when in spite of prayers and tears, her box was opened, hidden in it was the portrait of Lord Stair set in diamonds, not only an exceedingly valuable locket, but one that the duchess held most dear.
 It was true that no other gem was found there. not even ring or brooch, but the theory was that the prlsone had reserved to herself these diamonds intending to sell them; and then she had avowed herself guilty. She had